A broadcast journalist with Talks 91.3 FM in Lagos, Kunnu Adeniyi Taiwo has raised an alarm over multiple threats to his life by unknown persons.
According to a statement signed by Taiwo, he has received several threats to his life and that of his family. These incidences, he said, have left him fearing for his own safety and that of his family.
Chronicling the various incidences, Taiwo said it was important that he brings the encounters to the notice of Nigerian media practitioners.
The statement read: “In the course of my work as a media professional for decades, I have received sundry disaffections from some people who listen to me on radio or watch me on television. These I have ignored mostly because I feel it is occupational hazard with my being a journalist, but in recent times, these dislikes seem to have metamorphosed, and have come to a point where I cannot ignore it anymore.
“On November 27 and December 8, 2023, a broadcast journalist by the name, Mr. Victor Obot Archibong informed me that he was accosted first by two men and at another time saw the same persons, who asked about my whereabouts thinking I was working with his media outfit
“On the 28th of December and 30th of December, 2023, Mr Nicholas Anyamene, another colleague working with another media house informed me that some men came to his place of work asking about me. Following their departure, he informed me about their visit and warned me to be careful because he didn’t feel good about how they looked and what they sounded like.
“In addition, I was also informed by one of my colleagues at Lagos Talks 91.3, on December 1, December 4 and December 13, all in 2023, that two persons who didn’t mention their names came to ask about me, remarking that I have been speaking too much in the course of my weekly broadcast.
“Importantly, on my weekly programme which holds on Thursdays and Fridays between 9am to 11am, I mentioned these incidences of threat on the 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd and 28th of December, 2023, for the listener to know that some unknown persons who do not like Nigeria were threatening me.
“Shocking to me was that, on December 25, 2023 at 23.51hrs, I received a threat mail from an unknown Ibrahim Mohammed mentioned that and a family member are not physically present. One thing that I usually don’t do is to discuss my journeys with people, so this came to me as a shocking statement, especially mentioning that I travelled with my wife.
“Four days after the first mail, I received another one on the 29th of December, 2023 at 10:39hrs, from the same unknown Ibrahim Mohammed.”
He further said, “I am here reporting these concerns, so as keep the media informed and for record purposes, thus enabling needful awareness and useful alert against unknown detractors who are never comfortable with the noble work I and many of my other colleagues in the media do as occupants of the fourth estate of the realm.”
